Bottle holding and locking device.



M. J. TRUMBLE. BOTTLE HOLDING AND LOCKING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAYIZI, 1916.

1,227,220. Patented May 22,1917.

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MILON J. TRUIVIBLE, F ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

BOTTLE HOLDING AND LOCKING DEVICE.

7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that IQMILION J. TRUMBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alhambra, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Bottle Holding and Looking Device, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to the retail distribution and sale of milk, and the principal ob ject of the invention is to provide means for reducing the cost of such distribution and sale. h

It is the general practice to retail milk in glass bottles generally holding one quart or one pint, the filled bottles being left on the doorstep or in any other convenient location by the milkman, who at the same time gathers up the empty bottles previously left there by the housewife. This method of distribution is wasteful, both on account of the fact that many filled or empty bottles are stolen, and on account of the fact that the housewife often forgets to put out the empty bottles and they become lost or destroyed.

My invention consists of a device for holding either a full or an empty bottle in such a manner that it can onlybe released by securing in the device another full or empty bottle. That is, it consists of a device for exchanging bottles.

In the practical use of my invention the housewife supplies an empty bottle to the device foreach full one she removes, and the milkman supplies a full bottle. for each empty one he removes. Moreover children, tramps, or others cannot remove either an empty or a full bottle from the device without supplying a bottle to take its place. By my invention the milk company saves a large number of bottles, and the theft of milk is greatly reduced.

A further object of my invention is to provide a milk bottle holder which covers the top of the bottle and the paper cap ordinarily used therein, so that dirt, rain, snow or dust is largely excluded therefrom, andso that cats or dogs cannot lick oil superfluous milk therefrom.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

In the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only Figure 1 is a section on a horizontal plane indicated by the line m of Fig.3, show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No 99,708.

ing the mechanism with a bottle locked in place.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a second bottle being inserted to release the first bottle. 7

- Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line :0 m of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a section on a plane represented by the line act- 015 of Fig. 1.

In the form of my invention illustrated in these drawings, a casing 11 is provided,

this casing consisting of sheet metal bent to form flaring wings 12, a bottom 13, sides 14, and a top 15. A mechanism supporting plate 16 has flanges 16 turned up at either end thereof. These flanges are secured to the top 15 and form a closing means for the ends of the casing 11. Cut in the mechanism plate 16 is a bottle slot 17 this slot having a narrow central portion 18, an enlarged entering opening 19, and an enlarged leaving opening 20. The central portion 18 is ust wide enough to allow the neck of a standard milk bottle to slide therein while the openings 19 and 20 are large enough to pass the enlarged lip surrounding the mouth of sucha bottle.

Pivoted on pins 21 secured in the plate 16 on either sideofthe slot 17 near the entering opening 19 are a pair of primary dogs 22. These dogs are formed of sheet metal,

and have an car 23 turned up on one end. this ear being provided with a small hole into which one end of a tension spring 24. is hooked. Formed on one end of each dog 22 is a cam surface 25. The dogs 22 each have a pointed end 26 which normally projects into the slot 17 so as to be struck by'the neck of a bottle entering the narrow central portion 18 from the entering opening 19, these points being free to move against the tension of the springs 24 toward the leaving end of the slot 17 thus swinging out of the slot 17 and allowing the bottle to pass.

Located beside each of the dogs 22, and. pivoted on a pin 27 fixed in the plate 16, is a locking cam 28 which is preferably formed of sheet metal. One end 29 of each of these cams is curved to wipe across the cam surare a pair of operating'cams 34 formed of sheet metal. The cams 34c eachhave an arm is so located that it is pressed upon by the :lip of a milk bottle as the milk bottle passes through the slot 17. Formed on the cam 34 is a locking projection 38 and a notch 39. Pivoted on each of the pins 36 is a connecting bar 40, these bars extending longitudinally inside the casing, and having their other ends pivoted on pins 11, each carried on a grip plate 42, the grip plates 42 being pivoted on pins 13 fixed in the bottom 13.

The grip plates 42 have a straight portion at which when the plates 12 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, form an extension to the straight portion 18 of the slot 17, cover-- ing a portion of the leaving opening 20. The straight portion 14 joins onto a curved portion 45 which terminates in a finger 16, these fingers extending toward the center of the casing so as to engage the neck of a milk bottle located between the grip plates 12.

Pivoted on a pin 47 secured in the plate 16, is a secondary dog 18, this dog having an end 49 which projects into the slot 18 when the dog 48 is thrown into the position shown in Fig. 2 by the end of the grip plate rubbing across a cam surface 50' formed on the end of the dog48. A stop 51 secured in the plate 16 limits the movement of the dog 48.

The method of operation is as follows:

The casing 11 being secured to a wall 52 by a bracket 53, a milk bottle is placed in the device by inserting the mouth of the bottle in the entering opening 19, the lip 54 of the bottle readily entering this opening. The bottle is then forced into the straight portion 18. As it enters the portion 18 the primary dog 22 is forced over until the neck of the bottle passes it when it snaps back into the position. shown in Fig. 1 under the action of the spring 2%. The bottle is now'engaged and cannot be retracted without a great deal of trouble.

A further movement of the bottle into the slot 17 results in the bottle striking the fingers 30 and throwing the locking cams 28 from the locked position shown in Fig. l to the free position shown in Fig. 2. While the cams 28 are held in this position the lip 54 of the bottle strikes the operating cam lip 37 throwing it from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the locking projection 38 moves into the notch 31, and the locking projection 32 moves into the notch 39 as the parts move into the position shown in Fig. 2.

If there is another bottle suspended in the grip plates 412 it is ejected when these grip plates are thrown into the position shown in Fig. 2, the straight portions 44 retracting from the center and uncoverin a portion of the leaving opening 20, and the bottle being forced slightly back by the fingers A6 and down and out through the opening 20.

The entering bottle may then be forced farther into the slot 18, thus releasing the operating cam lips 37 and allowing the parts to resume the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the locking cams 28 lock the operating cams 35 so that the bottle cannot be withdrawn, it being necessary to insert a new bottle and throw the locking cam 28 before the operating cam can operate.

After a bottle has passed on and released the operating cams 35, it may be moved over into the grip plates 12 where it is suspended until a new bottle is inserted. The particular closed box shape of the casing 11 protects the top of the bottle from cats, dogs, and the like.

1 claim as my invention l. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed lnto engagement with said grip plate by sald slot; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; means by which said operating cam causes said grip plate to release said first named bottle; and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot.

2. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement wit-h said grip plate by said slot; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; a connecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivoted at the other end on said operating cam; and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot.

3. A bottle holding and locking'device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate by said slot; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; a connecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivoted at the other end on said operating cam; a

locking cam arranged to normally look said operating cam in such a position as to prevent any release of said grip plate; means formed on said locking cam so placed as to be engaged by said second bottle by which said locking cam releases said operating cam; and means for preventing the with: drawal of said second bottle from said slot.

4. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip. plate by said slot; an operating cam' so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; a connecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivotedat the other end on said operating cam; a

locking cam arranged to normally lock said operating cam in such a position as to prevent any release of said grip plate; means formed on said locking cam so placed as to be engaged by said second bottle by which said locking cam releases said operating cam; a primary dog so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot to prevent the withdrawal of said second bottle therefrom; and means by which said locking cam causes said primary dog to be so thrown.

5.'A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate by said slot; a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot when said grip plate is released; and means by which a second bottle upon entering said slot will cause said grip plate to release said first named bottle.

6. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate by said slot;a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot when said grip plate is released; means by which a second bottle upon entering said slot will cause said grip plate to release said first named bottle, and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot.

7 A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein,said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate bysaid slot; a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot when said grip plate is released; an operating cam so placed asto be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; means by which said operating cam causes said grip plate to release said first named bottle; and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot. r

8. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide there through; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate by said slot; a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot when said grip plate is released; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; aconnecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivoted at the other end on said operating cam; and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot. 9. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement with said grip plate by said slot; a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and soplaced as to have its end thrown into said slot when said, grip plate is released; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; a connecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivoted at the other end on said operating cam; a locking cam arranged to normally lock said operating cam in such a position as to prevent any release of said grip plate; means formed on said locking cam so placed as to be engaged by said second bottle by which said locking cam releases said operating cam; and means for preventing the withdrawal of said second bottle from said slot. 10. A bottle holding and locking device comprising a casing having a bottle slot therein, said slot being just wide enough to allow the neck of a bottle to slide therethrough; a grip plate pivoted to said casing and so shaped and placed that it will engage and restrain the neck of a bottle which is directed into engagement With said grip plate by said slot; a secondary dog pivoted to said casing and so placed as to have its end thrown into said slot When said grip plate is released; an operating cam so placed as to be actuated by a second bottle entering said slot; a connecting bar pivoted at one end on said grip plate and pivoted at the other end on said operating earn; a locking cam arranged to normally look said operating cam in such a position as to prevent any release of said grip plate; means formed on said locking cam so placed as to be engaged by said second bottle by Which said locking 15 Which said locking cam causes said primary 20 dog to be so thrown.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 18th day of May, 1916.

MILON J. TRUMBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents,

' 7 Washington, D. 0." Y 

